Cushion insole for shoes

ABSTRACT

A composite insole for shoes is disclosed including a generally rigid upper layer and a resilient and compressible lower layer which underlies the upper layer throughout and is laminated thereto. Spaced upper elements of a shoe are impressed through a binding element, attached to the insole, into the resilient and compressible lower layer in order to provide a substantially uninterrupted bottom binding surface to which a shoe outsole is attached. Heel attachment, without openings, and with a smooth, sculptured appearance for the shoe upper is also disclosed.

United States Patent 1 1 Stafford 3,707,784 Jan; '2, 1973 [S41 CUSHION INSOLE FOR SHOES [76] inventor: Cleo Stafford, 411 North 7th St.,

Corning, Ark. 63101 [22] Filed: Oct. 19, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 190,497

[52] 11.8. C1 ..36/ll.5

[51] Int. Cl. ..A43b 3/12 [58] Field of Search ..36/2.5 R,11.5,12,19,19.5, 36/28, 30, 43, 44

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,811,380 6/1931 Bernard ..36/1l.5

1,968,290 7/1934, Gilkerson.. ..36/19 2,226,392 12/1940 Sbicca, ..36/11.5

3,228,124 1/1966 Schwarz ..36/1 1.5

3,398,469 8/1968 Bressan ..36/1 1.5

Primary Examiner-Patrick D. Lawson Attorney-Michael Kovac [5 7 ABSTRACT A composite insole for shoes is disclosed including a generally rigid upper layer and a resilient and compressible lower layer which underlies the upper layer throughout and is laminated thereto. Spaced upper elements of a shoe are impressed through a binding element, attached to the insole, into the resilient and compressible lower layer in order to provide a substantially uninterrupted bottom binding surface to which a shoe outsole is attached. Heel attachment, without openings, and with a smooth, sculptured appearance for the shoe upper is also disclosed.

10 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJMZ ms 3.707.784 SHEEI 1 BF 2 INVENTOR- C LEO STAFFORD AIIJRNEY PATENTEDmz ms 3.707.784

sum 2 or 2 1216 76 {2&4 INVENTOR CLEO STAFFORD BY W ATTORNEY CUSHION INSOLE ron SHOES SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Substantial manufacturing difficulties, with attendant economic and aesthetic disadvantages, are presently encountered in the manufacture of womens strap shoes; open toe, side and heel shoes; and other open work shoes. Utilizing present manufacturing knowledge, it is difficult to attach spaced upper shoe segments between a shoe insole and outsole so as to provide a comfortable and good-looking shoe with the spaced upper shoe segments securely retained in place. It will be appreciated that the outsole, because it is made of a relatively rigid material, is not capable of conforming to the shoe insole with the spaced upper shoe segments attached to the undersurface thereof. As a result, the spaced upper shoe segments cause undesirable bulging of the shoe outsole making it difficult to attach the outsole to the insole in the area between the spaced upper shoe segments. Ratholes or openings are also provided in the vicinity of the spaced upper shoe segments where it is not possible for the outsole to conform to the upper shoe segments. These limitations make for an uncomfortable and undesirable looking shoe in which the spaced upper shoe segments are capable of being easily displaced from the shoe.

In some cases, the insole is notched to allow the spaced upper shoe segments to be hidden between the insole and outsole. Insole notching, in addition to being costly, has the disadvantage that it is impossible to provide any adjustment for the spaced upper shoe segments as is desirable during manufacture. In most cases; however, spaced upper shoe segments are at tached between shoe insoles and outsoles without re gard to the shoe appearance, comfort or upper shoe segment retention.

Even where the bulging and openings can be avoided, as in insole notching, the exposed bindings which are used in open work shoes can exhibit wrinkles, creases and unevenness. It has been the practice to add thickened and rigid portions to the insoles in an attempt to avoid these difficulties; however, this practice has not totally solved the problem and in addition, has resulted in the use of more material and added manufacturing costs.

It is also the current practice to add a filler element to the undersurface of the insole within the binding element before the outsole is attached to the insole. This is done to fill up the space between the insole and the outsole, which is caused by the attachment of added material to segments between the insole and outsole, as well as to provide added comfort to the shoe. It will be apparent that additional labor and manufacturing expense is involved in this practice, and the added comfort is small in relation to the added cost.

The attachment of heels to shoes, whether open or closed work is involved, has also not been entirely satisfactory. In some shoe designs, the outsole extends partially beneath the heel, and this makes it difficult to attach the heel to the insole without any openings in the area where the heel overlies the outsole. In other instances, the location of the heel in relation to shoe straps creates similar problems. Where this happens, it is generally the practice to crimp or deform the outsole in an attempt to cover up the opening. As will be appreciated, hand labor used for this crimping or deforming operation can only attempt to cover up the opening. This hand operation cannot provide a good heel seat which is desirable both from the standpoint of avoiding any openings between the heel, outsole and/or insole as well as providing a smooth and sculptured appearance for the shoe upper in the area of the heel.

From the above, it, will be appreciated that the present manufacture of open work shoes, and in some cases, closed work shoes as well, has a number of long standing problems. The present invention seeks to provide a simple, practical and economical solution to the aforementioned problems of shoe design and manufacture which have continued to cause difficulties in shoe appearance, comfort and construction.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved shoe and insole device which overcomes the aforementioned difficulties.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved shoe and insole device therefor in which the spaced upper shoe segments are attached between the shoe insole and outsole in a manner to provide a comfortable and good appearing shoe with the spaced upper shoe segments securely retained in place.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved shoe and insole device therefor which substantially reduces labor, material and manu facturing costs over shoes that are presently made.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a novel heel attachment means which avoids any openings between the heel, outsole and/or insole and provides a smooth and sculptured appearance for the shoe upper in the area of the heel.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are attained by providing a shoe which includes a composite insole'having a generally rigid upper layer and a resilient and compressible lower layer which are attached together and define an insole top surface, side surface and bottom surface, a binding element covering the insole side surface and extending at least partially across the top and bottom surfaces of the composite insole, a shoe body having at least one pair of circumferentially spaced upper elements in which the free ends of the upper elements are attached to the resilient and compressible lower layer to the rigid upper layer in a manner to cause the free ends of the upper elements to be compressed into the binding ele ment and provide a substantially uninterrupted bottom binding surface, and an outsole attached to the binding and upper elements along the substantially uninterrupted bottom binding surface. In attaching a heel to a shoe, the shoe body, prior to attachment of the heel thereto, is partially compressed into the resilient and compressible lower layer, and then the heel is further impressed into the resilient and compressible lower layer and attached to the shoe body and insole in the heel area of the shoe body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an open work shoe which is constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the shoe illustrated in FIG. 1 prior to the attachment of the heel and outsole thereto;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. I, but on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 1, but also on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines 55 of FIG. 2, but also on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along lines 66 of FIG. 2, but also on an enlarged scale;-

FIG 7 is a side elevational view of one form of composite insole device which is constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is reduced top plan view of an elongated strip from which composite insole devices of the type shown in FIG. 7 are formed;

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of a modified form of composite insole device coming within the purview of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of another modified form of composite insole device which is within the scope of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of still another modified form of composite insole device; and

FIG. 12 is yet another modified form of composite insole device which comes within the purview of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS While the present invention has particular utility in connection with womens strap shoes; open toe, side and heel shoes; and other open work shoes, it also has usefulness in the attachment of heels to shoe bodies, whether of the open or closed work variety. This will become apparent from the discussion that is to follow.

Reference is first made to the shoe 10 shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings which illustrates an open work shoe construction in the form of circumferentially spaced upper elements or straps 12. The shoe 10 also shows a closed work heel construction which is represented by the shoe upper heel area 14. The closed heel work construction may be utilized in the open work shoe 10 or in closed work shoes where there are no circumferentially spaced upper elements defining openings therebetween.

The present invention is directed to the manner in which the upper shoe elements 12 are attached between an insole l6 and outsole 18, as well as to the manner in which the upper shoe heel area 14 is attached to the heel 20. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the specific design of the circumferentially spaced upper elements or straps l2 and the shoe upper heel area 14 forms no part of the present invention and may be varied to suit the aesthetic or design appearance of the shoe that is desired.

As has been previously discussed, it has not been possible under current manufacturing techniques to provide a comfortable and good-looking appearance for an open work shoe with the circumferentially spaced upper elements of the open work shoe securely retained in place. In order to achieve this, the present invention discloses a cushion insole device and the specific environment in which the cushion insole device is best utilized in a shoe.

The type of cushion insole device that is preferably constructed for the shoe 10 is shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings. There, a cushion insole device 22 is shown with a generally rigid upper layer 24 and a resilient and compressible lower layer 26 which are laminated together and define an insole top surface 28, an insole side surface 30, and an insole bottom surface 32. A suitable cement or adhesive 34 is utilized for laminating the upper and lower layers 24, 26 to each other. The generally rigid upper layer 24 includes relatively thicker and rigid heel and toe portions 36, 38 respectively which are interconnected to an intermediate relatively thinner and flexible portion 40. Complementary beveled surfaces 42, 44 respectively are utilized for providing a mating interconnected fit between the spaced portions 36, 38 and the intermediate interconnecting portion 40 of the upper layer 24. Suitable cement or adhesive (not specifically shown) may be utilized for attaching the mating faces of the beveled surfaces 42, 44 and thus the portions 36, 38 and 40 to each other.

The relatively thicker and rigid heel and toe portions 36, 38 respectively may be formed from pressed fiberboard or the like whereas the thinner and flexible intermediate portion 40 can be formed from a less dense and more flexible fiberboard material. It will be appreciated that other materials having an equivalent function may be equally utilized. For example, the relatively thicker and rigid heel and toe portions 36, 38 respectively can be made from a leather material while the thinner and flexible intermediate portion 40 can be formed from a rubberized material or the like. It is to be understood that the term generally rigid layer such as the layer 24 is intended to cover a construction where the layer is rigid throughout as well as a form where the layer includes rigid heel and toe portions 36, 38 which are connected to an intermediate flexible portion 40 as is illustrated in FIG. 7 of the drawings. An insole with an intermediate flexible portion, as in the area where the baIl-of-the-foot is located, is particularly useful in high heel shoe construction of the type represented by the shoe 10 in FIG. 1 of the drawings.

The resilient and compressible lower layer 26 of the insole device 22 is preferably formed from a foam rubber material which has a plurality of pores or openings therethrough. The one-piece substantially uniform-in-thickness lower layer 26 underlies each of the portions of the upper layer or insole section 24 throughout including the outermost periphery of each of the portions. This is an important feature of the present invention as it will become useful in providing a shoe with good comfort, appearance and shoe upper or strap retention.

It willbe noted that the lower layer or insole section 26 has a thickness which is preferably at least generally the same as the upper layer or insole section 24 or even slightly larger than the upper layer or insole section 24 as is illustrated in FIG. 7 of the drawings. It has been found that a thickness for the lower layer or insole section 26 which is generally the same as or even slightly larger than the upper layer or insole section 24 will provide the desired comfort, appearance and strap retention. As will be apparent, a lesser thickness may, of course, be utilized, providing that the desired characteristics are achieved.

It is to be noted that the resilient and compressible lower layer or insole section 26 conforms to the undersurface of the upper layer or insole section 24 in the intermediate flexible portion 40 as well as the rigid heel and toe portions 36, 38. Thus, there are no gaps or openings between the upper and lower layers 24, 26, so as to enable the lower layer 26 to resiliently support the upper layer 24 throughout.

As seen in FIG. 8 of the drawings, the cushion insole devices 22 are preferably formed from an elongated strip 46 which has heel, toe and ball-of-the-foot bands 48, 50 and 52 from which the cushion insole devices 22 are stamped or cut. It will be appreciated that the elongated strip 46 will have a one-piece band of resilient and compressible material (not shown) underlying the heel, toe and ball-of-the-foot bands 48, 50 and 52 respectively in order to form the cushion insole devices 22 as illustrated in FIG. 7.

For shipping purposes, the cushion insole devices may be cut and stacked separately or an elongated strip 46 can be sent to the shoe manufacturer who will cut or stamp the cushion insole devices 22 therefrom. It will be appreciated that the size and outline configuration of the cushion insole device 22 and the length and width of the elongated strip 46 may be varied to suit the particulars desired.

With a cushion insole device 22 of the type described and illustrated, it is possible to successfully employ the cushion insole device 22 in a novel and unique way in the shoe 10. To understand how this is done, reference is made to the following description in conjunction with FIGS. 1-6 of the drawings.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the shoe outsole 18 is illustrated as conforming to the undersurface of the shoe insole 16 with upper or strap elements 12 therebetween. As will be appreciated, the upper or strap elements 12 would normally tend to cause undesirable bulging of the shoe outsole 18 making it difficult to attach the outsole 18 to the insole l6, particularly in the area between the upper or strap elements 12. This is the result of the inability of the rigid leather material outsole 18 to bend or conform to small spaces or openings between adjacently positioned spaced upper or strap elements 12. In the usual shoe construction, ratholes or openings are formed in the vicinity of the upper or strap elements 12 where it is not possible for the outsole 18 to conform to the upper or strap elements 12 or the area therebetween. In addition, the upper or strap elements 12 are not securely retained in place, and thus can become easily displaced from the shoe 10.

To overcome these limitations, the shoe incorporates the cushion insole device 22 in a novel and unique way which will nowbe described.

In exposed or open work shoes, a binding element 54 is usually attached to the insole along its side surface and at least partially across the top and bottom surfaces thereof. This is perhaps best illustrated in FIGS. 2-6 of the drawings where the binding element 54 is illustrated as being attached to the cushion insole 22 along the top, side and bottom surfaces thereof. The binding element 54 is normally made from the same type of material from which the upper or strap elements 12 are made.

In attaching the upper or strap elements 12 to the cushion insole device 22, the free ends 56 of the upper or strap elements 12 are attached by staples 58 or other suitable fastener which extends through the resilient and compressible lower layer or insole section 26 into the upper layer or insole section 24. Preferably, the fasteners 58 penetrate the binding element 54 so as to tie the strap and binding elements 12, 54 respectively to the upper layer or insole section 24 in the area which is covered by the free ends 56 of the upper or strap element 12. Because the lower layer 26 of the cushion insole device 22 is resilient and compressible, the free ends 56 of the upper or strap elements 12 together with the section 60 of the binding element 54 which is attached to the bottom surface of the insole device 22 are upwardly displaced into the lower layer 26. This is best illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings where it can be seen that the fasteners 58 cause the free ends 56 of the upper or strap elements and the lower section 60 of the binding element 54 to be compressed into the lower layer 26. As will be appreciated, this can reduce or eliminate entirely strap bulging and openings adjacent the straps.

It will also be noted in FIG. 4 of the drawings that the opposite ends of the cushion insole device 22 curve generally upwardly. As will be appreciated, FIG. 4 is a view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 1 where the upper or strap element 12 is positioned between the insole l6 and outsole 18 in the area of the insole where the cushion insole device 22 is provided with a thinner and flexible intermediate portion 40. The upper or strap elements 12, when attached by the fasteners 58 to the intermediate portion 40 of the cushion insole device 22, causes the binding element 54 to be angularly disposed while being filled out by the resilient and compressible lower layer 26 so as to give an apparent thickness for the binding element 54 throughout the intermediate thinner and flexible portion 40 of the upper layer 24 which is similar to the more thicker and rigid heel and toe portions 36, 38 respectively of the upper layer 24. In the past, it has generally been the practice to add a separate thicker part to an open work insole in an attempt to avoid wrinkles, creases and unevenness in the exposed binding. It will be apparent that it was not possible to achieve this particularly in the relatively thinner and flexible intermediate area. Thus a relatively poor appearing shoe binding for open work shoes has been accepted as fact based on current manufactuiing techniques.

With the present invention; however, the exposed binding 54 will be filled out not only in the heel and toe portions 36, 38 respectively, but also in the intermediate thinner and flexible portion 40 of the upper layer 24. Additionally, the free ends 56 of the upper or strap elements 12 are compressed by fasteners 56 into the lower layer 26 so as to avoid bulging while the free ends 56 of the upper or strap elements 12 are also securely retained in place by the fasteners 56 and the attachment between the insole l6 and outsole 18. Each of these features of the present invention is aided by having the resilient and compressible layer 26 of the cushion insole device compressed generally throughout the area of the binding element 54. This is shown in FIGS 3-4 of the drawings which illustrate sections taken along various portions of the shoe as at lines 3-3 and 4-4. It will be noted in FIG. 4 that while the free ends 56 are initially compressed into the lower layer 26 by the fasteners 56, the unengaged sections 60 of the binding element 54 as seen in FIG. 3 are compressed as the result of the outsole 18 being attached thereto.

In order to compress the resilient and compressible lower layer 26 throughout the area of the binding element 54, it is important that the outsole 18 be attached to the free ends 56 of the upper or strap elements 12 as well as to the lower section 60 of the binding element 54. This is made possible by virtue of the fact that the free ends 56 of the upper or strap elements 12, when initially compressed by the fasteners 56 into the resilient and compressible lower layer 26 as illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings, assume a position which is generally in line with the non-engaged lower section 60 of the binding element 54 so as to provide a substantially uninterrupted bottom binding surface to which the outsole 18 may be attached. Additional compression of the lower layer 26 in the area of the free ends 56 may occur as the result of the outsole 18 being attached thereto, depending on the in-line nature of the initially compressed free ends 56 with the non-engaged lower section 60 of the binding element 54.

The free ends 56 of the upper or strap elements 12 are generally in line with the non-engaged lower sections 60 of the binding element 54 since the fasteners 58 force the free ends 56 of the upper or strap elements 12 together with the lower sections 60 of the binding element 54 covered or superimposed by the free ends 56 to position where the free ends 56 are generally in line with the non-engaged lower sections 60 of the binding element. This relationship can further be enhanced by separating the non-engaged areas of the lower sections 60 from those portions of the lower sections 60 which are superimposed by the free ends 56 of the upper or strap elements 12 and engaged by the fasteners 58. This is conveniently accomplished by cutting the binding element 54 along the lower section 60 thereof adjacent the free ends 56 of the upper or strap elements 12. These separations or cuts as at 62 in FIG. 2 of the drawings make it possible for the lower sections 60 which are not engaged by the free ends 56 of the upper or strap elements 12 to have more freedom in assuming an in-line position relative to the free ends 56 as well as provide selective displacement thereof. This facilitates the attachment of the outsole 18 to the free ends 56 of the upper or strap elements 12 and the non-engaged lower sections 60 of the binding element, as well as gives the appearance that the upper or strap elements 12 are buried into the binding ele ment 54. In this connection, reference is made to FIG. 6 of the drawings which depicts the in-line position of the lower section 60 of the binding element 54 on one side of the shoe with the impressed free end 56 and superimposed lower section 60 of the binding elements 54 on the other side of the shoe. The cuts or openings 62, in addition to permitting the lower section 60 of the binding element 54 to be generally in line with the free ends 56 of the upper or strap elements 12, also allow adhesive material or cement to flow therein to aid in retaining the free ends 56 of the upper or strap elements 12 when the outsole 18 is cemented or adhesively attached thereto.

The lower layer or insole section 26 of the cushion insole device 22 within the confines of the binding element 54 eliminates the need of a separate filler element which is presently utilized to fill up the space between the insole and outsole that is caused by the attachment of the upper or strap elements 12 between the insole and outsole 16,18 respectively. Further, the lower layer or insole section 26, principally within the confines of the binding 54 but also extending into the binding, serves as a cushion to provide comfort during walking. In this latter regard, it will be appreciated that the ball of the foot intermediate portion 40 will provide more cushioning for the wearer since it is thin and flexible as compared with the rigid and thicker portions 36, 38.

The cushioning qualities of the cushion insole device 1 may be enhanced by the selection of particular materials for this purpose. In addition, it is within the framework of the present invention as described above to cement or otherwise adhesively attach the outsole 18 to the substantially uninterrupted bottom binding surface so as to provide a sealed condition. Where the lower layer or insole section 26 is made from a cellular material, air trapped in the cells of the cellular material by the sealed condition between the outsole l8 and substantially uninterrupted bottom binding surface also will enhance the cushioning qualities of the shoe.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1-2 and 5 of the drawings which illustrate the manner in which a heel 20 may be applied to the upper heel area 14 of a shoe. The free end 64 of the upper heel area 14 is attached by the fasteners 66 through the resilient and compressible lower layer or insole section 26 into the upper layer or insole section 24. The fasteners 66 thereby impress the free end 64 of the upper heel area 14 into the resilient and compressible lower layer or insole section 26. In so doing, a partial compression occurs, and this aids in drawing the material from which the upper heel area 14 is made into a smooth and sculptured appearance around and over the cushion insole 22. When the heel 20 is attached to the upper layer 24 of the cushion insole 22, the heel 20 is impressed into the resilient and compressible lower layer 26 of the cushion insole 22 and provides a good heel seat which avoids any openings between the heel 20 and the insole and outsole 16, 18 respectively in the FIG. 1 shoe embodiment. Preferably, the fasteners 66 are attached to the free end 64 of the upper heel area 14 inwardly of the binding element 54 so as to allow the resilient and compressible material of the lower layer 26 which extends outwardly of the fasteners 66 to fill up the lower part of the upper heel shoe area 14 in the area of juncture thereof with the heel 20 so as to cover up or close any gaps or openings.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 9-12 for various modified embodiments of the present invention. In these embodiments, similar reference numerals with alphabetical suffixes will be used to designate like parts in the various embodiments.

In FIG. 9 of the drawings, a cushion insole device 22a is shown with the resilient and compressible lower layer or insole section 26a underlying and laminated to the rigid heel section 36a of the upper layer or insole section 24a. The cushion insole 22a is particularly useful for open heel and side, open work shoes and the like. This embodiment makes it apparent that the lower layer or insole section of the'cushion insole device can underlie throughout, including the outermost periphery thereof, at least one, but not necessarily all of the portions of the upper layer.

The cushion insole device 22b illustrated in FIG. 10 of the drawings is similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 with one exception. A second resilient and compressible layer 68 is superimposed upon and laminated to the upper layer 24 so as to avoid the necessity of using a filler element inside the shoe as is common. Obviously, this embodiment also provides added cushioning qualities.

The cushion insole device 22c illustrated in FIG. 11 of the drawings is similar to the FIG. 7 embodiment, but also shows the possibility of causing an adhesive 70 to flow into the cells of the lower layer or insole section 26c. The adhesive 70 may be caused to flow into the cells of the cellular material during lamination or can be initially deposited as a heat activated adhesive into the cells of the lowerlayer or insole section 26c prior to the attachment of the upper and lower layer 240, 26c to each other, through the use of heat and pressure.

ln the embodiment depicted in FIG. 12 of the drawings, the lower layer or insole section 26d has provided in the space thereof which is laminated to the undersu'rface of the upper layer or insole section 24d, a plurality of depressions 72 which will form trapped air pockets when the upper and lower layer 24d, 26d of the cushion insole device 22d are laminated together. Added cushioning qualities to the insole will thereby be provided.

From the foregoing, it will now be appreciated that the present invention has achieved its objectives in providing a shoe and insole device therefor which enhances the comfort, appearance and construction of shoes over what is presently known or available.

1 claim: 7

1. A shoe including a composite insole having a generally rigid upper layer and a resilient and compressible lower layer which are attached together and define an insole top surface, side surface and bottom surface, a binding element covering the insole side surface and extending at least partially across the top and bottom surfaces of the composite insole, a shoe body having at least one pair of circumferentially spaced upper elements in which the free ends of the upper elements are attached through the resilient and compressible lower layer to the rigid upper layer in a manner to cause the free ends of the upper elements to be compressed into the binding element and provide a substantially uninterrupted bottom binding surface, and an outsole attached to the binding and upper elements along the substantially uninterrupted bottom binding surface.

2. A shoe comprising a composite insole having upper and lower layers which are attached together to define an insole top surface, side surface and bottom surface, the upper layer including relatively thicker and rigid spaced heel and toe portions than an intermediate thinner and flexible ball portion, the lower layer being made of a one-piece, substantially uniform thickness resilient and compressible material of predetermined thickness which underlies the upper layer throughout including the outermost periphery thereof, the relative thickness between the portions of the upper layer on the lower layer being such as to afford a greater resilient cushioning support in the intermediate thinner and flexible ball portion of the upper layer than in the thicker and rigid spaced heel and toe portions, a binding element covering the insole side surface and ex tending at least partially across the top and bottom surfaces of the composite insole, a shoe body having at least one pair of circumferentially spaced upper elements in which the free ends of the upper elements have a predetermined thickness relative to the resilient and compressible lower layer in order to cause the free ends of the upper elements to be compressed into the binding element beginning adjacent the outermost periphery of the composite insole in the lower layer thereof to provide a substantially uninterrupted bottom binding surface, and an outsole attached to the binding and upper elements along the substantially uninterrupted bottom binding surface.

3. The shoe as defined in claim 2 where in the resilient and compressible lower layer is compressed generally throughout the area of the binding element when the outsole is attached thereto.

4. The shoe as defined in claim 2 wherein at least a part of the resilient and compressible layer in the area of the binding element outside of the upper elements is pre-compressed.

5. The shoe as defined in claim 2 wherein the binding element in the area between the circumferentially spaced upper elements on the bottom surface of the insole is separated from those portions of the binding element to which the upper elements are attached in order to allow the binding element in the area between the circumferentially spaced upper elements to assume a position generally in line with the attached free ends of the upper elements.

6. The shoe as defined in claim 2 wherein said upper elements engage said binding element in the vicinity of the intermediate thinner and flexible portion to cause the binding element to be angularly disposed while being filled out by the resilient and compres-sible lower layer to give an apparent thickness for the binding element in the vicinity of the intermediate thinner and flexible portion similar to the binding element in the vicinity of the thicker and rigid portions of the upper layer.

7. The shoe as defined in claim 2 wherein the resilient and compressible lower layer is made from a cellular rubber material, and the lower layer is sealingly attached to the upper layer, binding element and outsole to provide a shoe cushion having trapped air within the cells thereof.

8. The shoe as defined in claim 2 wherein the resilient and compressible lower layer comprises a onepiece substantially uniform-in-thickness member having a thickness generally the same as the'rigid upper layer.

9. The shoe as defined in claim 2 wherein the resilient and compressible lower layer within the binding element on the insole bottom surface extends outwardly at least as far as the binding element to provide an integral shoe filler element.

10. A shoe including a composite insole having a.

generally rigid upper layer and a resilient and compressible lower layer which are attached together, a shoe body having the free ends thereof attached through the resilient and compressible lower layer to the rigid upper layer, said shoe body at least in the heel area thereof being partially compressed into the resilient and compressible lower layer, an outsole attached to the insole, and a heel which is impressed into the resilient and compressible lower layer and attached to the shoe body and insole in the heel area of the shoe body 

1. A shoe including a composite insole having a generally rigid upper layer and a resilient and compressible lower layer which are attached together and define an insole top surface, side surface and bottom surface, a binding element covering the insole side surface and extending at least partially across the top and bottom surfaces of the composite insole, a shoe body having at least one pair of circumferentially spaced upper elements in which the free ends of the upper elements are attached through the resilient and compressible lower layer to the rigid upper layer in a manner to cause the free ends of the upper elements to be compressed into the binding element and provide a substantially uninterrupted bottom binding surface, and an outsole attached to the binding and upper elements along the substantially uninterrupted bottom binding surface.
 2. A shoe comprising a composite insole having upper and lower layers which are attached together to define an insole top surface, side surface and bottom surface, the upper layer including relatively thicker and rigid spaced heel and toe portions than an intermediate thinner and flexible ball portion, the lower layer being made of a one-piece, substantially uniform thickness resilient and compressible material of predetermined thickness which underlies the upper layer throughout including the outermost periphery thereof, the relative thickness between the portions of the upper layer on the lower layer being such as to afford a greater resilient cushioning support in the intermediate thinner and flexible ball portion of the upper layer than in the thicker and rigid spaced heel and toe portions, a binding element covering the insole side surface and extending at least partially across the top and bottom surfaces of the composite insole, a shoe body having at least one pair of circumferentially spaced upper elements in which the free ends of the upper elements have a predetermined thickness relative to the resilient and compressible lower layer in order to cause the free ends of the upper elements to be compressed into the binding element beginning adjacent the outermost periphery of the composite insole in the lower layer thereof to provide a substantially uninterrupted bottom binding surface, and an outsole attached to the binding and upper elements along the substantially uninterrupted bottom binding surface.
 3. The shoe as defined in claim 2 where in the resilient and compressible lower layer is compressed generally throughout the area of the binding element when the outsole is attached thereto.
 4. The shoe as defined in claim 2 wherein at least a part of the resilient and compressible layer in the area of the binding element outside of the upper elements is pre-compressed.
 5. The shoe as defined in claim 2 wherein the binding element in the area between the circumferentially spaced upper elements on the bottom surface of the insole is separated from those portions of the binding element to which the upper elements are attached in order to allow the binding element in the area between the circumferentially spaced upper elements to assume a position generally in line with the attached free ends of the upper elements.
 6. The shoe as defined in claim 2 wherein said upper elements engage said binding element in the vicinity of the intermediate thinner and flexible portion to cause the binding element to be angularly disposed while being filled out by the resilient and compres-sible lower layer to give an apparent thickness for the binding element in the vicinity of the intermediate thinner and flexible portion similar to the binding element in the vicinity of the thicker and rigid portions of the upper layer.
 7. The shoe as defined in claim 2 wherein the resilient and compressible lower layer is made from a cellular rubber material, and the lower layer is sealingly attached to the upper layer, binding element and outsole to provide a shoe cushion having trapped air within the cells thereof.
 8. The shoe as defined in claim 2 wherein the resilient and compressible lower layer comprises a one-piece substantially uniform-in-thickness member having a thickness generally the same as the rigid upper layer.
 9. The shoe as defined in claim 2 wherein the resilient and compressible lower layer within the binding element on the insole bottom surface extends outwardly at least as far as the binding element to provide an integral shoe filler element.
 10. A shoe including a composite insole having a generally rigid upper layer and a resilient and compressible lower layer which are attached together, a shoe body having the free ends thereof attached through the resilient and compressible lower layer to the rigid upper layer, said shoe body at least in the heel area thereof being partially compressed into the resilient and compressible lower layer, an outsole attached to the insole, and a heel which is impressed into the resilient and compressible lower layer and attached to the shoe body and insole in the heel area of the shoe body. 